The MTH Premier EMD SD35 was announced in September of 2022. Previously run in 2020, these models again feature ProtoSound 3.0 technology and the great detailing we’ve come to expect from MTH.
The prototype was produced by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division from mid-1964 through 1966. More than 350 of the 2,500 hp locomotives were built, and they could be found on 11 railroads in the United States, with the Southern Pacific being the only West Coast buyer. EMD did offer a high hood version of the SD35 that was purchased by the Central of Georgia Railway, Southern Railway, and Norfolk and Western. MTH has offered a high hood version in the past, but did not for this latest release.
This review features a custom run option that was done for the Metropolitan Division of the Train Collectors Association (METCA), one of two available cab numbers in Conrail blue. This model arrived packaged in this shipper which showed little to no wear. The purple “Premier” box was snugly secured inside.
After I removed the foam insert and the lid, I found the model tightly wrapped in foam and plastic wrap with two yellow MTH ribbons tied around the outside. The handrails were protected by pieces of foam which were easily removed. I did notice slight bending to the handrails on the front and rear of the locomotive, but nothing of major concern.
The engine was quickly “found” by my DCS remote and fired right up. The smoke unit took about a minute to warm up before it began to bellow smoke out the exhaust vent. The soundset features a modern freight PFA. There are operating Proto-Couplers on the front and rear of the engine. All lighting is LED, including headlight, cab interior lights, number boards, and marker lights. There are green marker lights on the nose of the locomotive and red ones on the rear. The speaker, which is housed in the diecast frame and fuel tank, is loud and crisp with little to no reverberation or rattling from the ABS body.
Separately applied details include handrails, stanchions, walkway chains, drop plates, bell, horn, MU hoses, wind deflectors, and grab irons. The center section of the roof is removable to access the control board for volume, smoke, DCC/DCS, and 2-rail/3-rail. Removing this also allows for easier smoke fluid fills. This model can be operated conventionally, with the DCS remote, or with the MTH Wifi App.
These models measure in at 17½ inches long, which is slightly longer than true 1:48 scale for the 60’-8½” prototype. This three-axle diesel weighs in at 4 pounds, 8.8 ounces and can pull 1.5 lbs. Each of the three-axle trucks features a non-flanged center wheel, which allows this model to navigate O-42 curves. There are two pickup rollers per truck, which gives this shorter diesel a strong electrical footprint. Overall, I found this to be a fantastic model and one that begs for a lashup with a second SD35.
MTH offered four road names at the time of their announcement, each with two cab numbers: Chessie (20-21754-1 & 20-21755-1), Atlantic Coast Line (20-21756-1 & 20-21757-1), CSX (20-21758-1 & 20-21759-1), and Montana Rail Link (20-21760-1 & 20-21761-1). Custom runs included Penn Central by Berwyn’s (20-21775-1 & 20-21776-1), Louisville & Nashville by Mr. Muffin’s Trains (20-21762-1 & 20-21763-1), Conrail by METCA (SKU: 20-21779-1 & 20-21780-1), Baltimore & Ohio by Pat’s Trains (20-21771-1 & 20-21772-1), Jersey Central by Pat’s Trains (20-21777-1 & 20-21778-1), and Santa Fe by Train Loft (20-21773-1 & 20-21774-1).
Get more O gauge action on the Chris’s Trains & Things channel on YouTube.
Read Bob Keller’s review of the SD35 from 2010.
MTH Premier SD35
Features: Proto-Sound 3.0, O-42 operation, onboard DCS/DCC decoder, two remote-controlled Proto-Couplers, illuminated cab, ProtoSmoke diesel exhaust, metal wheels, gears, and axles
Roadnames: see text above
Price: $579.95
Website: https://mthtrains.com/
